Multislat shutter laundry



y 1943- F. A. O'KELLEY 318,884

MULTISLAT- SHUTTER LAUNDRY Filed June 16, 1941 2 Sheets-She s: 1

y 1, 1943. F. A. OKEQLEY 2,318,884

MULTISLAT SHUTTER LAUNDRY Filed June 16, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 11, 1943 warren STATES PATENT orrlce 2,318,884 MULTISLAT SHUTTER LAUNDRY Francis A. OKelley, Toledo, Ohio Application June l6, 1941, Serial No. 398,182

Claims.

This invention relates to superficial treatment of slat structures, more particularly of the Venetian blind type. 1

This invention has utility when incorporated in mounting and relatively progressing a slat series as to brushing and washing supplies.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, with parts broken away, of an embodiment of the invention of an elevator type of coating treatment device or washer for handling various sizes or dimensions of Venetian blinds in suspension;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device of Fig. 1, parts being broken away, primarily showing features of the elevator and connected drives;

Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram of the controls;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line IV-IV, Fig. 1, looking toward the receiving vat for the treating liquid or wash;

Fig. 5 is a partial section on the line V- -V, Fig. 1, showing the cooperative relation between the various brushing or wiping means;

slats 21. Control cords 28 may determine the rocking relation between the parallelslats 21, as well as the overlapping direction. At one limit of pull, the broad portion of one side, say the inner side, may be outward from the slat therebelow; while at the reverse direction, such slat has its opposite side on the inside but behind the upper edge of the slat therebelow as to its lower portion. Cord control 29 at the opposite end determines the extent of collapse between the respective slats.

For the treating operation hereunder, whether removal of dry particles, rinsing, scrubbing, ap plying tint, spray coating, or other operation occasion, it is preferable to have the particular shutter or blind fully distended from its carrying housing 25. In the grouping hereunder, the connecting portions 30 between the frame uprights 2 8 may determine the overall length or clearance Fig. 6 is a section on the line VI-VI, Fig. 5,

showing the contro1 for changing the clearance between the rotary brushes and the relation of the spray and wiper brushes;

Fig. '7 is a section on the line VII-VII, Fig. 6, more particularly showing cooperative relation for wiping the blinds in the direction of the overlap of the slats during descent operation of the elevator; and

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7, showing the reverse direction of rotary helical brush operations at the lift operation for the slats or blind. 1

Upon platform or floor I is mounted frame 2 having bracket 3 mounting main motor 4 having speed reduction drive 5 to shaft 6. From this shaft 6 is wheel I having endless belt 8 to wheel 9, on driven shaft I0. This shaft ID carries pulley II, from which extends V-belt I2 to drive pulley I3 on shaft I4. This shaft I 4 carries a pair of wheels l5, I6, about which extend elevator belt I1 about a pair of wheels I8 on shaft I9 in the upper portion of the frame 2. This pair of belts I! has a pair of adjacent link-carrying sections 20,'between which may extend bar 2|. This bar 2| has terminal connection portions 22 permitting adjustable assembly therewith into openings 23.0f

the rigid perforate link portions 20. The bar 2I' is thus a suspension holdin means.

Accordingly, from this holder 2|, say by,

grapple hooks, eyes or attaching means 24 there may be mounted or suspended terminal housing .25 for the operating mechanism, and carrying means for tapes or strips 26 hanging parallel provided by the bar holder 2 I. This means there may be a wide range in dimension of blinds handled as to the length of the slats. Furthermore, as to the extent of the uprights 2, there may be plural hangings in vertical relation for a single passing operation, wherein say the blinds areof a minor length as extended.

Motor 3| (Figs. 2, 4) on the floor I may drive rotary pump 32, thereby being eifective, through pipe 33 extending to'cross pipes 35 (Fig. 6) having jet openings 36, in producing sprays 31 toward opposite sides of the series of slats 21. On the floor I Within the frame 2 is located receiving vat or tank 38 (Figs. 1, 4). Motor 39 through belt 40 may operate rotary pump M as a circulating device for withdrawing liquid as wash water from the tank or vat 38, sending such from the pump II by way of line 42 to heater 43 for return by way of line 44 to the vat or tank 38. In the washing operation, this handling of the wash water in re-circulation may be through precipitating section or filter 45 between the vat 38 and the rotary pump 4|. This wash water or treating solution may be appropriate solvent for the particular character of shutters or blinds. Some of these are plastic, others fiber or composition, some metal, and others wood. Furthermore, the finishes may be flat or lustrous. In use they may have been exposed to grease or other atmospheric dirt. Accordingly, whether the cleansing agent be merely a solvent for grease, or should it go to an extent to dissolve or wash off the paint or coating, as a varnish remover, or whether it be say a sodium tetraphosphate, is within the realm of the user to determine. In the event the solvent be more effective at the warm temperatures,

say with warm water, this heating unit feature may be in the set-up.

Running ofi this shaft 6 (Figs. 1, 2, is pulley 46 having sprocket chain connection 41 to pulley 48 having drive connection to mechanical movement boxes 49, from which extend reciprocating bars 50 to brushes 5| reciprocable in slide ways 52. This will effect a more or less rapid back and forth motion, primarily to take care of the shutter housings or terminal portions. Control handle 53 is operable to cut in and cut out this reciprocating control and is readily operable by the attendant standing on platform 55. From this platform 54 is operable hand lever 55 having detent 55 releasable from segment 57, thereby to be pulled toward the operator, and effective to lift rotary brush 58 away from opposing rotary brush 59, thus to provide clearance between these helical sections longitudinally of continuously effective coaction, as when it is desired to pass the terminal housings in lowering or raising the upper terminal plate or housing as suspended by the holder bar 2|. 7

The shaft 6 adjacent the frame 2 has thereon sprocket wheel 50, from which extends sprocket chain 6| to drive shaft 62 in fixed terminal bearings 63 for the frame 2. This is a drive rotation means for the long pitch helical plural series of separate wipers, fiber or brush elements on this rotary brush 59.

Also mounted on the shaft 6 is wheel 64 from which extends belt 65 to drive axially fixed wheel 66 for driving shaft 61 through clutch 68 as connected by handle 68. This shaft 61 carries brush 58 and is mounted in terminal movable bearings 69 to which the arms 15 of the lever 5| extends as on rock shaft H with terminal fixed bearings I2 in the frame 2 (Fig. 5).

So located as to be accessible from the platform 54 is push button switch 13, operable by one push to cut in and by the other to cut out the motor supply circuits. This means that as the shutters are hung and the descent is at the lower limit, knob or lug 14, carried by one of the sprocket chains may strike lower limit switch 15 and open the circuit as to the motor 5, thereby discontinuing further descent operations. It is then necessary for the operator to handle reversing switch 16, thereby to start ascent of the shutter series being washed or treated. At the upper limit of this travel, the knob or lug 74 may strike limit 11 to cut out the motor 4. As the knob M travels away from the switch 15 or away from the switch 11, these limit switches automatically reset.

By throwing switch 18, the motor 35 may be cut in or cut out, and accordingly the circulating liquid pump 4| may be efiective in circulating the water as drained by runways 19 into the tank or vat 38. Valve may control overflow and valve 8| the draining of this tank 38. Switch 82 is manually operable by the operator as readily accessible from the platform 54, thereby to cut in and cut out the motor 3|, effective to supply the sprays or jets 36 for fountain supply to the helical, bristle-carrying rotary brushes 58, 59, as well as to the reciprocating brushes 50, 5|, as to the appropriate time interval therefor. Housing 83 (Fig. 6) confines the shutter and treating solutions or liquids, as well as matter removed therefrom, against dispersion about. Furthermore, on track 84 may shift sliding door 85 to close opening 86, which may be in position for a workman to get to the shutters as in suspension in the elevator well.

At the ascent operation, the direction of rotation of the brushes 58, 59 (Fig. 8) is to wipe the shutters in the direction toward the overlapping portion. This means that as to one side, say the left in Fig. 8, the rotation is downward while the shutters ascend, and on the other or right hand side, the rotation is upward as the shutters ascend. In the reverse direction or descent (Fig. 7) for the shutters, the direction of rotation of this pair of rotary brushes, each of which rotates in the same direction, is that the brush atthe left has the side toward the shutters wipe upwardly past the overlapping portions, while the brush at the right wipes downwardly past the overlapping portions.

The operations hereunder may be with a degree of speed and efficiency even to full laundering, dyeing, or coating which may be in order, whether dry treating or otherwise. In the event of washing, rinsing may occur, say by removing to the drying racks, with an air jet or rinsing wash and the air jet. This mode of treatment is one which is expeditiously conducted independently of disturbing the operating mechanism for the tape or cord connections.

The housing 83 has clearance or opening 81 (Fig. 6) providing a way through which the rail or bar holder 2| may have transit as well as clearance for the passage of the shutters being treated. The V-belt l2 in the general system of sprocket transmission provides a slippage in the elevator against hazard from overwind or other occasion which may arise in the handling of the stock, thereby avoiding hazard to such stock or to the machine.

What is claimed and it is desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. For a connected series of parallel slats, a holder for mounting the connected series of slats in extension, a pair of brushing means each having brushing movement in the direction of said extension of the series of the slats, and a mounting positioning the brushing means relatively to the holder against opposite sides of the slats,

there being driving means for effecting relative progress between the holder and mounting in a direction of said extension of the series of the slats and against the direction of movement of one of said brushing means.

2. For a connected series of parallel slats, a suspension holder for mounting the connected series of slats for partially overlapping in one direction, opposing brushing means. driving means for rotating the brushing means in the same direction, and a mounting positioning the brushing means relatively to the holder for the slats to pass between the brushing means, there being actuation connection for effecting travel between the holder and brushing means mounting whereby the brushing means wipe across the slats in the direction of the overlapping simultaneously on the respective sides of the series of slats.

3. For a connected series of parallel relatively partially overlapping slats, a holder for mounting the slats in distended position, brushing means, a mounting positioning the brushing means relatively to the holder to act on the slats, adjusting means for shifting the brushing means away from the slats, driving means for effecting relative travel between the holder and mounting, and a control operable to change the direction of said travel.

bodying an elevator adapted to have blinds mounted thereon, brushes for the blinds, a vat pit below the elevator, a liquid circulator and warmer in the pit, sprays in the elevator shaft j for directing liquid from the pit toward the blinds on the elevator, and manually operable means for adjusting the spacing between a. pair of the brushes.

FRANCIS A. OKELLEY. 

